Rockstar and fired GTA developers outline core arguments during union busting tribunal
Rockstar and fired GTA developers present opposing arguments in a Glasgow tribunal over the dismissal of 34 workers, accused of union busting after alleged Discord monitoring.
Rockstar and fired GTA developers have submitted legal filings in an ongoing employment tribunal in Glasgow, UK, detailing their opposing arguments. The dispute centers on the dismissal of 34 workers—31 union members and three non-members—by Rockstar last year, which the company claims was due to gross misconduct involving confidential information leaks. The fired employees allege the firings were retaliatory, targeting union leaders to destabilize the group after the union reached a 10 percent membership threshold in the UK.
The fired workers claim Rockstar used a 'mole' within their union Discord server to monitor activities, reporting union meetings, membership numbers, and identifying activists to HR manager Charlie Kinloch. According to the filings, the mole provided screenshots and recordings over 21 months, with Kinloch initiating half of the communications. The union recruitment surge in October 2025 prompted Rockstar to seek legal advice, leading to the firings weeks later after the 10 percent threshold was reportedly reached.
The Claimants describe the firings as abrupt and unjust, with employees summoned to brief 'catch-up' meetings where they were handed pre-prepared dismissal letters containing only generic allegations. They allege no prior notice or opportunity to respond was provided, and employees with clean disciplinary records were summarily dismissed and escorted from workplaces. The union claims its server collapsed within days, with members leaving out of fear, reducing membership below the 10 percent threshold.
Rockstar, in its response, reiterated that the firings were due to misconduct and emphasized its stringent confidentiality culture, comparing the protection of GTA VI's design to safeguarding Coca-Cola's formula. The studio argued Discord's vulnerabilities and past security breaches justified its actions, noting it employs a team of investigators and faces regular 'assaults' on its systems, including a 2022 GTA VI leak via phishing.